Police chief addresses five shootings within past week

Five separate incidents in a week have left three dead and four with injuries in the city.

The most recent shooting occurred at approximately 3:24 a.m. Saturday outside BJ’s Food Store at West Rev. Dr. Ransom Howard Street and Savannah Avenue.

Police officials said two relatives went to the store together and one shot the other one in the knee.

The 31-year-old male victim is from Port Arthur.

No arrests have been made as of Tuesday and police are currently looking for the suspect.

About 24 hours prior to the shooting on West Rev. Dr. Ransom Howard Street was a shooting at Avery Trace Apartment complex, 4020 FM 365.

The shooting was reported at approximately 1 a.m. Friday and is believed to stem from a disturbance between acquaintances.

Port Arthur Police Chief Tim Duriso said a man was shot in the leg. The gunshot victim is not a resident of the apartments.

Police have identified a suspect and are getting complete cooperation in the investigation, he said.

Violence rang out July 4 with the shooting deaths of two men.

Alfred Glenn Scott Jr., 22, of Port Arthur and Corneileous Jarod Jones, 24 of Killeen were each shot multiple times at a garage apartment at 3400 6 ^th St.

Duriso said it is unknown if there was an argument or a possible robbery that led to the shootings.

Police have spoken with the tenant of the apartment and neighbors and have identified several persons of interest.

The violence began June 30 with two separate incidents — the shooting death of a man in his vehicle and the shooting of two men inside a club.

Troyne Mitchell, 31, of Port Arthur, was found in the 800 block of Procter Street with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was brought to The Medical Center of Southeast Texas where he was pronounced dead. Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Jr. ordered an autopsy.

Duriso said officials are waiting on the autopsy and forensics in Mitchell’s death as it is unknown if the shooting was accidental or not.

PAPD has received some footage from the night and are asking for more video and tips.

While at the scene, police heard shots from Opulence Lounge, 711 Procter St.

Officers found two men with gunshot wounds to the legs. Neither of the men wanted to pursue legal action, Duriso said.

A male suspect was apprehended and a weapon retrieved. He was identified as Herbert Mouton, 27, and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

It is unknown how the alleged suspect was able to enter the business with a weapon as the establishment has private security at the door.

The police chief said police have not found a connection between the shootings and each incident occurred in different parts of town.

At least two of the shootings could be described as crimes of passions, the one at Avery Trace apartments and the one outside BJ’s store.

Patrols has been increased in areas where police have interaction with known violators, he said.

“It’s difficult to predict when a party will become angry because of something said and react at that time,” Duriso said.

He said anger management programs might be a way to help some people control their anger by taking a deep breath and cooling off rather than acting on the anger.

People with information about on any of these crimes or other crimes can call Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-TIPS or by downloading the P3 Tips app on a smart phone. Tips are anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.

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